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Distinguished Flying Cross

This
medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted man of the Armed Forces
of the United States who shall have distinguished himself in actual
combat in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement
while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November
11, 1918." The decoration may also be given for an act performed
prior to November 11, 1918, when the individual has been recommended
for, but has not received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service
Cross, Navy Cross, or Distinguished Service Medal.

The
Distinguished Flying Cross, authorized by an Act of Congress of
July 2, 1926 (amended by Executive Order 7786 on January 8, 1938),
was awarded first to Captain Charles A. Lindbergh, of the U.S.
Army Corps Reserve, for his solo flight of 3600 miles across the
Atlantic in 1927, a feat which electrified the world and made
"Lindy" one of America's most popular heroes. The first D.F.C.
to be awarded to a Navy man was to Commander Richard E. Byrd,
of the U.S. Navy Air Corps, on May 9, 1926, for his exciting flight
to and from the North Pole. Both these famous aviators also received
the Medal of Honor with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Aviatrix
Amelia Earhart also received the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hers
was the only such award, as an executive order on March 1, 1927,
ruled that D.F.C. should not be conferred on civilians.

During
wartime, members of the Armed Forces of friendly foreign nations
serving with the United States are eligible for the D.F.C. It
is also given to those who display heroism while working as instructors
or students at flying schools.

The
Distinguished Flying Cross was designed by Elizabeth Will and
Arthur E. DuBois. It is a bronze cross pattee, with rays between
the arms of the cross. On the obverse is a propeller of four blades,
with one blade in each arm of the cross and in the re-entrant
angles of the cross are rays which form a square. The cross is
suspended by a recatgular-shaped bar and centered on this is a
plain shield. The reverse is blank and suitable for engraving
the recipients name and rank.

The
ribbon has a narrow red center stripe, flanked on either side
by a thin white stripe, a wide stripe of dark blue, a narrow white
stripe and narrow dark blue at the edge of the ribbon.

Subsequent
awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross are indicated by oak-leaf
clusters for Army and Air Force personnel and by additional award
stars for members of the Naval services.

An
example of the gallantry for which the Distinguished Flying Cross
is awarded took place on the morning of August 31, 1969 in Vietnam.
Captain Francis J. Cuddy, USMC a Helicopter pilot, was assigned
the mission of assisting in the extraction of an Army Special
Forces reconnaissance team heavily engaged in combat with a large
North Vietnamese Army deep in an mountainous area under the enemy's
complete control. Captain Cuddy, undaunted by the heavy volume
of hostile fire directed at his aircraft, directed other helicopters
into the area, moved his aircraft into treetop level and delivered
repeated rocket and strafing runs on the enemy positions. As a
result of his devastating attacks, the hostile fire was suppressed
and sufficiently to enable the transport helicopters to safely
extract the reconnaissance team. The citation for his award went
on the say ". . .Captain Cuddy's courage, superior airmanship,
and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of personal danger
were instrumental in accomplishing this hazardous mission and
were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps
and of the United States Naval Service." Captain Cuddy was also
awarded the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Commendation
Medal with Combat "V," the Purple Heart and forty eight Air Medals
During his tour of duty in Vietnam.